Air outlet device for ventilating apparatus



July 1952 L. R. PHILLIPS ETAL AIR OUTLET DEVICE FOR VENTILATING APPARATUS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Dec. 16, 1949 I l i llyVEV TO Leona rd R flu/laps,

ATT NEY July 15, 3952 L. R. PHILLIPS ETAL 7 2,603,141

AIR OUTLET DEVICE FOR VENTILATING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1949 INVENTORS .BY I A'IT RNEY Patented July 15, 1952 AIR OUTLET DEVICE FOR VENTILATING APPARATUS Leonard R. Phillips, Teaneck, N. J and William J. Waeldner, Hawthorne, N. Y., assignors to Anemostat Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 16, 1949, Serial No. 133,298

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to ventilating apparatus and particularly to air outlet devices for eliecting delivery of air from air supply ducts, fans or the like in diffused or other desired form into rooms or other enclosures for heating, cooling, ventilating or other purposes.

An air outlet device of the type with which the present invention is concerned comprises a first member having therein an opening through which air supplied to the device flows, and at least one other member disposed to intercept air flowing through said opening and to deflect it more or less laterally outward. Usually the first member is of open-ended, hollow, flaring form, although it may be of flat or substantially flat, disk-like or other form. Usually, too, there are a plurality of the air intercepting and deflecting members which likewise usually are of openended, hollow, flaring form, but which may be of fiat or substantially flat, disk-like or other form. In any event, it is desirable to provide readily detachable connections between the second member, or members, and the first member to facilitate operative mounting of the second member, or members, relative to the first member and also to enable the second member, or members, readily to be removed from the first member for any desired reason and to be equally as readily replaced. This is a broadly old concept as evidenced by prior patent, No. 2,229,747, of January 28, 1941 which discloses detachable connections between an outermost, open-ended, hollow, flaring member and a series of similar but successively smaller members which are joined together as a unit and which are effective to divide air flowing through the device into a plurality of separate streams and to deflect the streams more or less laterally outward, whereby the air is delivered from the device indiifused form. However, according to said prior patent, the said detachable connections are of a screw type which require the use of a tool, such as screwdriver, to effect tightening and loosening of the same. Consequently, since a workman must employ one of his hands to manipulate a tool to effect tightening or loosening of said connections, only his single, remaining hand is free for use to support and position the member, or members, to .be installed in or removed from the outermost memher while the connections are being made or released. There is the danger, therefore, that the member, or members, to be mounted in or removed from the outermost member may be dropped and damaged during their installation or removal. In any event, to employ only one hand to hold the member, or members, to :be installed in or removed from the outermost member while manipulating a tool with the other hand, .makes the installation or removal of the first mentioned member, or members, a more or less 'tedious, diflicult and time-consuming operation, especially in instances where the member, or members, to be installed or removed is or are, of large size and correspondingly heavy and cumbersome.

As an improvement upon the structure disclosed in aforesaid Patent No. 2,229,747, there is disclosed in a subsequentapplication, Serial No. 18,116, filed March 31, 1948, in which we are joint applicants, means whereby, in a device of the type under discussion, a second member, or

members, may be connected with and disconnected from a first member-by rotation of the second member, or members, relative to the first member. However, according to said application, a positively acting latch is employed to hold the second member, or members, against rotation relativeto the first member in a direction to re. lease the second member, or members, from the first member. Being positive in its action,.said latch must be held released during connection and disconnection of the second member, or members, to and from the'first member. Thus, while the structure of said application is an improvement upon the structure of said prior patent. in that it avoids screw-type connections between the members, it nevertheless requires the use of one hand of a workman to manipulate the latch and leaves only his single, remaining hand free to support and position the second member, or

members, during its, or their, installation in or" removal from the first member.

Accordingly, the object ofrthe present inven tion is to provide, in an air outlet device of the type under discussion, means of the character disclosed in said application, Serial No. 18,116, whereby a second member, or members, may be connected with or disconnected from a first 'mem ber simply by rotation of the second member, or

members, relative to the first member, and, in ad dition, to provide friction latch means to resist,-

but not to positively prevent, rotationof the second member, or members, relative to the first member in a direction to disconnect the second member, or members, from the first member.

3 bers, during its or their installation or removal with all consequent advantages. Moreover, installation or removal of the second member, or members, may be effected far more expeditiously and rapidly than by means of connection employed in accordance with prior practice.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in an air outlet device embodying the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of an air outlet device embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the inner, unitary assembly of flaring members of the device separated from the larger or outermost member of the device.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. Sis a detail cross sectional view illustrating an alternative form of keeper element which may be employed as part of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating an alternative form of friction latch which may be employed as part of the invention; and

Fig, '7 is a section on the line 1- 1 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally an air outlet device of a wellknown type which is composed of an outermost, open-ended, hollow, flaring member Ill and a plurality of other successively smaller, open-ended, hollow, flaring, air deflecting members II spaced inwardly from the member ID and from one another to provide between said members a plurality of flaring passageways I2.

Airfor heating, cooling, ventilating or any other desired purpose is supplied from any suitable source of supply through the rear, open ends of the-members I and II and is divided by said members into a plurality of separate streams which are deflected more or less laterally outward by the members I I. As a result, the air is delivered from the device in diffused form.

Appropriately, the member I0 may have a neck I3 extending rearwardly therefrom to facilitate connection of the device with an air supply duct or other source of air supply. However, said'neck is not essential and need not be provided in instances where, for example, air is supplied to the device by a fan or the like. Moreover, in accordance with the invention, the members III and II are not necessarily of flaring form, but may be of more or less flat, disk-like or other desired form. Furthermore, the device may include a plurality of air deflecting members I I, or only a single such member. In any event, the member I0 is provided with suitable keeper elements I4 and the member, or members, I I, as the case may be, has or have radiating or otherwise suitably extending therefrom arms I5 the outer'or free end portions I6 of which are disposed at right angles'or substantially right angles to said arms so that they may be caused to enter or leave the keeper elements-- I4 byrotation' of'the member,-or members II relative to the member III. In this connection it will of course be understood that the keeper 4 elements I4 and the arms I5 correspond in number and disposition relative to each other so that the end portions I6 of the arms I5 enter and leave the keeper elements I 4 simultaneously.

The keeper elements I4 may be provided by forwardly depressing portions of the member I5, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, or by means of members I4 of U-shaped cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, which members may be Welded, riveted or otherwise suitably secured against the front face of the member II]. In any event, each of said keeper elements is open at least at one end thereof to permit the end portions I6 of the arms I5 to enter and leave said elements by rotation of the member, or members, II relative to the member I0.

Assuming a separated relationship of the member, or members, II from the member I0, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the said member, or members, II are connectible with the member ID by first alining the end portions I6 of the arms I5 with the open ends of the keeper elements I4 and by then rotating said member, or members, II relative to the member 10 in a direction to cause the said end portions I6 of said arms I5 to enter said keeper elements. Thereby, the member, or members, II, becomes or become positively interlocked with the member ID against longitudinal movement relative thereto as is apparent. Rotation of the member, or members, II in the opposite direction relative to the member III is, of course, effective to disconnect the member, or members, II from the member III.

In any instance where an outlet device embodying the features of the invention includes more than one air deflecting member II, as usually is the case, the arms I5 may appropriately be employed to fasten said members together as a unit either by means of being welded, riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to said members.

In accordance with the present invention, friction latch means is employed to releasably hold the end portions I6 of the arms I5 in the keeper elements I4. As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, said latch means comprises a leaf spring II located at the rear side of the member ID and having one end portion thereof riveted, welded or otherwise suitably fastened to said member III and its other end portion free for forward and rearward flexure and overlying one of the keeper elements I4. In addition, said latch means comprises a protuberance Is projecting forwardly from the free end portion of the leaf spring IT to enter an opening or recess I9 in an arm end portion l8 disposed in the said keeper element which the free end portion of said spring overlies. In this connection, the keeper elements I4 and the arms I5 preferably are spaced equidistantly apart and each of the arm end portions I6 preferably is provided with an opening or recess I9 so that when connecting the member, or members, I I with the member III it is unnecessary to associate any particular arm end portion I6 with any particular keeper element I4. In any event, when the member, or members, II is, or are, rotated to enter the arm end portions I6 in the keeper elements I4, the free end portion of the leaf spring I! first is flexed rearwardly by engagement of the arm end portion I6 with the protuberance I8 and then springs forwardly to engage said protuberance in the opening or recess I9 when the arm end portions I6 fully enter the keeper 5 elements i ii and said opening or recess 19 be comes alined with said protuberance. Thus, the spring I! is effective to retain the arm end-portions I6 in the keeper elements l i against any possibility of their accidental withdrawal therefrom. However, by exerting a suificiently forceful rotative effort upon the member, or members, II in a direction to withdraw the arm end portions 16 from the keeper elements l 4, the protuberance IE will be urged rearward out of the opening or recess [9 and thereby the memher, or members, Il may be disconnected from the member ID. It will thus be apparent that both hands of a workman may advantageously be employed to handle the member, or members, H during its or their connection with or disconnection from the member and that the connection or disconnection may be effected expeditiously simply and primarily by rotation of the member, or members, I l relative to the member Ii]. It will further be apparent that when the member, or members, II, is, or are, operatively connected to the member 10, it, or they, is, or are, held frictionally and securely, yet releasably in assembly with said member ID.

Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings illustrate a latch means of alternative form which operatesin the same general manner as the latch means just described, but which differs from said described latch means in that it cooperates with an arm l as distinguished from the end portion l6 of said arm. According to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the latch means comprises a leaf spring l1 having one end portion thereof fastened against the front face of the member l0 and its other end portion free for forward and rearward flexure and disposed to extend across the front of one of the arms I5 when the end portion l6 of said arm is disposed in one of the keeper elements 14 or M. In addition, the said free end portion of the spring I1 is bent first rearwardly, as indicated at 20, and then at a forward inclination, as indicated at 2|, to provide, on the one hand, a shoulder for engagement with the rear edge of the arm [5 to hold said arm against movement in a direction to withdraw its end portion l6 from the keeper element M or M and, on the other hand, to provide a terminal, forwardly incline-cl tongue for engagement by the arm 15 during movement thereof to enter its end portion [6 in the keeper element It, whereby the free end portion of said spring I1 is urged forwardly to permit the arm [5 to pass between the same and the member Ill.

Obviously, only a single latch spring I! or H is required to hold the member, or members, ll against rotation relative to the member ID. If desired, however, there may be a latch spring individual to each of the keeper elements M or 14'.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction and operation of the present outlet device will be clearly understood and its advantages appreciated. It is desired to point out, however, that while only certain specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, the same is readily capable of specifically different embodiments within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An air outlet device comprising a member having therein an opening through which air supplied to the device flows, at least one other 6 memberdisposed to intercept airfiowing through said opening and to'defiectit laterally outward, means operable responsive to rotation of said second mentioned member in one direction rela tive to said first mentioned member to connect saidsecond mentioned member to said first'men tioned member positively against movement longitudinally relative thereto in either direction and responsive to rotation of said second mentioned member in the opposite direction relative to said first mentioned member to disconnect said second mentioned member from said first mentioned member, and friction latch means separate from said first mentioned means to resist rotation of said second mentioned member relative to said first mentioned member in a direction to disconnect said second mentioned member from said first mentioned member.

2. An air outlet device comprising a member having therein an opening through which air supplied to the device flows, at least one other member disposed to intercept air flowing through said opening and to deflect it laterally outward, keeper elements carried by one of said members,

arms carried by the other of said members andv having end portions which, responsive to rotation of said second mentioned member in one direction relative to said first mentioned member, are engageable with said keeper elements to connect. said second mentioned member to said first mentioned member positively against longitudinal movement relative thereto and which, responsive to rotation of said second mentioned member in the opposite direction relative to said first mentioned member, are disengageable from said keeper elements to disconnect said second mentioned member from said first mentioned member, and friction latch means separate from said keeper elements and said arms to resist rotation of said second mention-ed member relative to said first mentioned member in a direction to disengage the said end portions of said arms from said keeper elements.

3. An air outlet device comprising a member having therein an opening through which air supplied to the device flows, at least one other member disposed to intercept air flowing through said opening and to deflect it laterally outward, keeper elements carried by one of said members, arms carried by the other of said members and having end portions which, responsive to rotation of said second mentioned member in one direction relative to said first mentioned member, are engageable with said keeper elements to connect said second mentioned member to said first mentioned member positively against longitudinal movement relative thereto and which, responsive to rotation of said second mentioned member in the opposite direction relative to said first mentioned member, are disengageable from said keeper elements to disconnect said second mentioned member from said first mentioned member, and friction latch means separate from said keeper elements and said arms carried by said first mentioned member for engagement with at least one of said arms to resist rotation of said second mentioned member relative to said first mentioned member in a direction to disengage the said end portions of said arms from said keeper elements.

4. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 2 in which the arm end portions have recesses therein, and in which the friction latch means comprises a leaf spring fastened to one of the members and having a protuberance extending 7 therefrom for engagement in the recess of one of the arm end portions when the arm end portions are operatively engaged in the keeper elements.

5. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 2- in which the friction latch means comprises a leaf fastened to one of the members and havin a shoulder for engagement with one of the arms to hold the end portions of the arms operatively engaged in the keeper elements.

6. An air outlet device comprising an outermost open-ended hollow flaring member to be supplied with air through its smaller or rear end, at least one other smaller hollow flaring member disposed within and spaced from said outermost member. to intercept air flowing through the latter member and to deflect it laterally outward, keeper elements carried by said outermost member at the front side thereof, arms carried by the other of said members and having end portions which, responsive to rotation of said other member in one direction relative to said outermost member, are engageable with said keeper elements to connect said other member to said outermost member against longitudinal movement relative thereto and which, responsive to reverse rotation of said other member relative to said outermost member, are disengageable from said keeper elements to disconnect said other member from said outer, most member, and friction latch means separate from said keeper elements and said arms to resist rotation of said other member relative to said outermost member in a direction to disengage the said end portions of said arms from said keeper elements.

7. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 6 in which at least one of the arm end portions has a recess therein, and in which the friction latch means comprises a leaf spring fastened to the outermost flaring member and having a protuberance extending therefrom for engagement in said recess when the arm end portions are operatively engaged in the keeper elements.

8. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 6 in which the friction latch means comprises a leaf spring fastened to the outermost flaring member and having a shoulder for engagement with one of the arms to hold the end portions of the arms operatively engaged in the keeper elements.

LEONARD R. PHILLIPS. WILLIAM J. WAELDNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 158,334 Thielepape et a1. Dec. 29, 1874 604,371 Cook May 24, 1898 1,143,802 Batterman June 22, 1915 2,083,621 Smith June 15, 1937 2,217,944 Collicutt Oct. 15, 1940 2,229,747 Kurth Jan. 28, 1941 

